CARLSBAD – When faced with tough situations, Carlsbad Shorthorn pitcher Tristan Thomas found ways to get out of them.

Each time, he responded by getting a key strikeout or groundout en route to his team’s 7-3 win in Saturday’s 11-year-old district championship game against Carlsbad National at Bob Forrest Youth Sports Complex.

“This year, I was having high hopes for the district [title],” Shorthorn reliever Justus Patrick said.